San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-31


for Angela was u really good executant In
music Of the lighter kind-holding up her
finger when Lord WestbrOok would have
followed her.
NO" she said, imperiously. you talk
and want to listen"
But /"
81 want to be aloner said Valerie, with
the independence Of an acknowledged
queen; and she seated herself on n lounge
near one OF the windows, apart from the
general circle.
1t gave her a little relief, little breath
ing time, TO sit here in comparative shadow
and obscurity, and to listen, like one in a
dream, to the barcarole Angela was play
ing.
The breathing time was not long The
player ceased, and the guests crowded
round her. buzzing forth congratulations;
and then, after moment or two, Max
Beauregard quilted the group, and APP
preached Valerie. Her heart beat heavily
as he came near, but she did not move, and
scarcely looked at him.
valerie" he said, pausing by her side,
twill you not sing something"
"If you like" she answered, raising her
self from her lounging attitude as If to
quit her seat.
But not yet" said Beauregard, taking
the vacant place beside her; II have scarce
ly spoken dozen words to you this eve
ming"
Valerie sank back again, looking at him
through her long lashes.
Her manner was not encouraging but
Max did not seem to heed it, He went on:
"And have had no opportunity of full
filling my promise"
"Your prOmisc?" repeated Valerie.
"What promise?"
But even as the words passed her lips
she recalled what he had said earlier in
the evening about the park, and added,
quickly:
II remember nowl beg your pardon.
Yes, tell me what you meant"
''Only this!' he bent little nearer to her.
There is an old tree in the park-in the
AbbOt's Glen-you saw the picture Of it
this evening-the Enchanted Oakr'
1t was the first allusion he had ever made
to that happy past when he had called her
the Fairy Queen and asked her to invite
him to her moonlight revels under the En-.
chauted Oak. Why did he speak of it,
The blood mounted to Valeries cheek: she
lulHtu dSluts DuI OlHtINlSc SilC
sat motionless-not even a movement of
the hands, though she felt as if her heart
must cease to beat; yet Max Beauregard,
watching her, saw that his allusiOn had
gone straight home-had stirred very
passion of emotion within her. The nobler
nature still strOve against the crust OF
worldliness: she could contrast, with
shame, the present and the past; she could
feel that she was better, happier, then, and
long for power to blot out the record of the
last two years; even now, so late, he, Max
Beauregard, might have saved her from
herself. if-that fatal if!-he had not been
lord of Abbot's Leigh and all its broad
landsl But the test was lacking; and love
that was half for the man and half for all
that he possessed, Max Beauregard would
have none of it. Yet he was playing with
fire in having this girl whom he loved; but
would not WOO, under his roof. What
then? 1t was the soldier spirit in the field
of love as in the field of battle; to do and
to dare.
He spoke again after pause, changing
his tone to TIE more ordinary conversation
al manner.
you must letme show you the tree some
day, Valerie-or better, by moonlight The
AbbOt's Glen is one of the loveliest in the
park"
81 shall like to see it," said the girl, re.
.o'eiilS neiSel tnousn n.l ,oios "s.I, "
did the tree gain its name?"
IAN old legend. There used to be
monastery on the lands of the Leigh-some
of the ruins still remain; and the abbots-
perhaps needless to say-were always Beau
.'aI "'o, oot 'G.'' ~ 'iS =" -
Deeu.n century was niuCh ulSIUIpeu ~
sPltiI ny nearing Ii,a' Iie iaiiies heii ilSi
feNeis ,.iuer an on oah III the "uJaceh'
loresI lahui anu ne GGIerlhIneu 10 put al,
enu W Tue reNeis' therefore nc WaVc lr.
IN 'no klen alohe' every nioohiiSh' niSnI'
I ~ 'ne purpose VI eAolcis,lS .ne laliles'
Az seenS' no"enei, qua. 'ne u.'t ', PeoPLo
soG 'no g '1,, VI ~ III SPi'e VI DeIi' oooh'
anu Ianuie' toi one uas Ine %oDoU was
Ll!ssiGS' 'ne gien was seaicheu' puU WIN
ouS eneS' anu hoiy uel1ais was meyer seen seen
Vi hearu Vi MORE ~ coulu ohiy oe sur
nitseu InaT 'he laiil1 e., hS'u SpiLi,eu tle
lnonS o1oIlS away. me piopapliity ls'
80 a., - a. 80, y. III ~. .I aS
49, s'l ~ inc So 80. az an co., '1e Jo4y "'
W. Hl ~ Vi VII ?ois Ipii uaiiT
inc $50 Islander vonr ancestors in that wev
fnlIv believe the story and 7 think the
abbot deserved his fate The fairies did M
harm!'
ooh! of course you take their part! Per
haps YOU were one of them-for fairies are
immortal YOU know: and so | have told
you no news"
mo" she said, readily and was better
aole no" 10 ulash heT leellhSs' IhouSh her